‘Force-feeding, beatings and corrective rape’

Most patients entering the gay cure therapies are lesbians, committed by parents or other family members.

Upon their escape, detainees detailed human rights abuses including electroshock therapy and raping by men.

Last year, photo artist Paula Paredes created a collection focusing on the epidemic, entitled Until You Change. She said: ‘Imprisoned against their will, those interned are subject to emotional and physical torture, through force-feeding, beatings and corrective rape.’

Paredes interviewed people who had experienced the gay cure therapies firsthand.

She said: ‘These images allow us to see what was never meant to be seen.

‘The perversion of pills and prayer books; the regime of forced femininity in make-up, short skirts and high heels; torture by rope or rubber gloves; the specter of “corrective” rape.’

She also said: ‘A significant part of Ecuador’s population does not speak openly about it. If they do, it is with a sense of shame, mockery and abnormality. This prevents society from becoming tolerant and accepting of the LGBTI population.’